Sports

Every day, black people have to navigate in “white spaces,” dispelling stereotypes and convincing everyone that they’re worthy; it’s hard work, every day, according to Elijah Anderson, a Yale University sociology professor who studies race relations. “You have to be on good behavior to gain people's trust. Your work is never done,” said Anderson, who was the speaker at the kickoff event of the Global Sport Institute's yearlong series Tuesday.

The pitchfork symbol is ubiquitous around ASU, and now there is finally a sculpture of the iconic representation of the Sun Devils, unveiled last week. The 6-foot, 3-inch-tall bronze pitchfork sits at the southeast entrance of the newly renovated Sun Devil Stadium, a symbol of school spirit and the perfect place for fan photos. “We didn’t have anything like this, and we needed our emblem,” said Arthur Pearce II, a Mesa businessman and third-generation Sun Devil, who donated both the pitchfork statue and the statue of Pat Tillman that was unveiled a year ago.

Playing video games is seen by many as a sedentary, solitary activity, but an Arizona State University student-led organization is seeking to help change that sentiment by promoting esports — competitive video gaming — as an athletic activity that democratizes competition and access among its participants while offering its players a sense of camaraderie.

ASU’s archery team brought home the gold at the National Outdoor Collegiate Championships earlier this summer in Newberry, Florida. The six-person team entered three archers into the May 17 competition: sophomore Molly Nugent and senior Nathan Yamaguchi, both marketing majors in the W. P. Carey School of Business, and junior Stephanie Phlipot, a microbiology and biochemistry double major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

As legalized betting becomes a force in the sports world, fans will likely experience games in a different way — both in the arena and while watching on TV, according to experts at ASU. The changes could generate more money for teams and athletes but also test fan loyalties. “I think most of the changes will be around fan experience,” said Daniel McIntosh, a lecturer in the W. P. Carey School of Business who teaches sports business courses.

While England tries to keep its flag flying at the World Cup in Russia, Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to find a way to lower a the European Union flag back at home. This week, the U.K.’s withdrawal from the European Union, known as Brexit, faces a political crisis after the resignations of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis. ASU professor Andrés Martinez sees a telling contrast between the political chaos surrounding Brexit — which has been widely interpreted as a rejection of globalization — and the English team’s success at the World Cup.